Denver man killed, another missing in Colorado River rafting accident

A man from the Denver metro area died and another is missing after a rafting accident in the Yarmony Rapids area of the Colorado River on Saturday, according to a news release from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.

The Grand County Communications Center received reports of a person who was not breathing on the Colorado River, southwest of Kremmling, around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday. The sheriff’s office initially reported that the accident occurred in Gore Canyon, but it actually happened in the Yarmony Rapids area of the Colorado River, according to a Sunday update. Once on scene, first responders learned that there had been a rafting accident and that bystander CPR was in progress on an adult man, according to the release.

The man, a 56-year-old from the Denver metro area, was later pronounced deceased by emergency medical services personnel, the release states. The man’s identity has not yet been publicly released.

Another man had gone missing after the raft capsized, according to officials. Emergency responders searched the river and surrounding area for the missing man, a 61-year-old from the Denver metro area, but were unable to find him, according to the release.

According to preliminary reports, the two men were not wearing personal flotation devices, the release states. A third person from the rafting group safely exited the river after the accident, according to officials.

River rangers from the Bureau of Land Management will continue the search on Sunday. Anyone with information should call 911.

Updated 10:40 a.m. Sunday, June 2, 2024: This article was updated to correct the location of the accident because of incorrect information provided by a source.

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